- MACT means Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, the court that decides road accident compensation.
- Sections 140 and 163A were replaced from 1 April 2022 by Sections 164 and 161 for new accidents.
- The Act now requires a claim within six months of the accident; file within that time to be safe.
- You can file where the accident happened, where you live or work, or where the opposite party lives.
On this page
MACT full form and meaning
MACT is the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal. State governments set these tribunals up under Section 165 of the Motor Vehicles Act to decide claims for compensation arising from motor vehicle accidents, including death, injury and damage to property. They work like civil courts but with simpler procedure.
Where is the motor accident claims tribunal in Mumbai?
Mumbai's claims tribunal sits in the city and hears claims for Greater Mumbai. Under Section 166(2) you can also file where you live or carry on business, or where the opposite party lives, so a family living in Navi Mumbai or Thane may file at the tribunal for their own area. See MACT claims in Mumbai for representation.
What changed on 1 April 2022?
| Old provision | For accidents from 1 April 2022 |
|---|---|
| Old Section 140 (omitted): no-fault compensation of small fixed amounts | Section 164: fixed compensation of Rs 5 lakh for death and Rs 2.5 lakh for grievous hurt, without proof of fault |
| Old Section 163A (omitted): structured formula | Claims under Section 166 on proof of negligence, using the court-approved method |
| Solatium Scheme for hit-and-run | Section 161: Rs 2 lakh for death and Rs 50,000 for grievous hurt from the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund |
| No fixed time limit | Section 166(3): claim within six months of the accident |
Accidents before 1 April 2022 are still governed by the old provisions.
Is the six-month limit really in force?
The six-month limit in Section 166(3) is in the Act, and its validity has been questioned before the courts. Until that is settled, treat six months as the deadline and file within it. Missing it risks the whole claim.
Motor accident case procedure in Mumbai
- FIR and accident report by the police.
- Claim petition under Section 166, or under Section 164 for fixed compensation.
- Notice to the owner, driver and insurer.
- Evidence: medical records, income proof, disability certificate.
- Settlement or award, including at Lok Adalat.
- Deposit and release of the amount as the tribunal directs.
Documents to collect
- FIR, panchnama and charge sheet.
- Medical records, bills and discharge summary, or post-mortem report.
- Disability certificate from a medical board.
- Salary slips, tax returns or business records.
- Vehicle registration and insurance details of the offending vehicle.
What to do next
Note the date of the accident and the six-month deadline, collect the documents, and get advice on where to file. For how compensation is calculated, see our accident claims guide.
Founder and Managing Partner, VIVS Legal. BLS, LL.B, LL.M, PGDBM, JAIIB.
